Lake Garda Travel Guide

Lake Garda has an interesting history, as the lake is surrounded by mountains, it served as a strategic and military location. During Roman times it was known as 'Benacus' and they established several settlements, including the spa town of Sirmione. In 268 the Battle of Lake Benacus took place, where the Romans defeated the Germanic tribe of Alamanni. After the fall of the Roman Empire, around the 5th century the Lombards occupied Lake Garda, followed by the Franks of Charlemagne, eventually it fell under the control of the Venetian Republic from 1405 until 1797, when their rule collapsed to Napoleon Bonaparte. Another historical battle took place close to Lake Garda, the 'Battle of Rivoli' in 1797, where Napoleon's troops fought successfully against the Hapsburg army. After being under French rule for a very short period, following the decline of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna in 1815 the eastern part of Lake Garda was given to the Austrian Empire until the unification of Italy in 1861. During Benito Mussolini's rule between 1922 and 1943, Lake Garda saw significant development with the construction of roads, hotels and facilities to help with attracting more tourists to the region; Mussolini even owned villa in the town of Salò. After the fall of Mussolini's government during WW2, Italy's ally Nazi Germany helped to form the short lived Italian Social Republic, where Salò was its de facto capital and the Lake Garda villa was used as the headquarters from 1943 to 1945.  

Although surrounded by mountains, it’s relatively easy to explore Lake Garda as  most of the town centres are flat.  However, the excursions involve periods of walking, standing, plus travel by boat, and Riva, Malcesine and Limone do have some cobbled streets and hilly areas. Therefore, a reasonable degree of health and mobility is required. For all our tours we have an activity level guide to help you decide which holiday suits you best. For specific advice regarding our guided Lake Garda tours and to discuss any special needs, please contact us directly and we will be happy to assist.

Lake Garda is an ideal location for a relaxing holiday in Italy. There are lakeside promenades and pavement cafes where you can revel in the fresh air and sunshine and relax with an alfresco coffee or glass of local wine, surrounded by majestic mountain scenery. It’s also the perfect base if you’re looking to take day trips to visit some iconic sights in Italy, such as Venice and Verona.